Brenda is a name of English origin, derived from the Old Norse name Brjannr, which means "sword" or "torch". It was originally a male name, but it has been used as a female name since the late Middle Ages.
The name Brenda gained popularity in the United States and other English-speaking countries during the mid-20th century. It peaked in popularity in the 1950s and 1960s, with thousands of baby girls being named Brenda each year. Today, it is still a popular choice for parents looking for a classic yet distinctive name for their daughter.
Some notable people with the name Brenda include Brenda Holloway, an American soul singer who gained popularity in the 1960s, and Brenda Walsh, the main character in the television series Beverly Hills, 90210.
The given statistics show the annual number of births with the name Brenda in the United States from 1897 to 2023. The data illustrates a significant trend: the popularity of the name Brenda peaked in the mid-20th century and has been declining steadily since.
In the early years, the number of babies named Brenda remained low, ranging from 5 to 9 births per year between 1903 and 1911. However, the tide began to turn in the late 1910s, with a noticeable increase in popularity. In 1918, there were 28 births, and this number continued to rise throughout the 1920s, reaching 66 births in 1931.
The 1930s marked a significant turning point for the name Brenda. The number of babies named Brenda began to skyrocket, with a staggering 233 births recorded in 1937. This trend continued into the 1940s, reaching an all-time high of 12688 births in 1946. The popularity of the name remained consistently high throughout the 1950s and 1960s, with over 19,000 babies named Brenda each year.
However, after peaking in 1964 with 17104 births, the popularity of the name Brenda began to decline. The 1970s saw a significant drop-off, with fewer than 8000 babies named Brenda per year by 1973. This trend continued throughout the 1980s and 1990s, with fewer than 3000 births each year.
The early 2000s marked another turning point for the name Brenda, as it became even less popular. Between 2004 and 2023, there were fewer than 500 babies named Brenda per year in the United States. In fact, the most recent data shows that only 176 babies were named Brenda in 2023.
Overall, these statistics demonstrate the fluctuating popularity of the name Brenda over the past century. While it was highly popular during the mid-20th century, its use has declined significantly in recent years. Despite this decrease in popularity, however, Brenda remains a classic and enduring name choice for parents in the United States.